On a segment that accounts for almost half of all car sales on the world’s leading market, the Peugeot 408 notch-back saloon benefits from top level and state-of-the-art equipment:
– a car full of personality, thanks to its combination of image-enhancing, balanced and dynamic styling;
– dimensions and volumes close to those of luxury saloons;
– record amount of space for rear passengers;
– driving and on-board comfort in harmony with the Chinese clientele’s demanding expectations;
– new automatic gearbox adapted to driving habits;
– premium quality road holding, the genuine trademark of a Peugeot car.
The Peugeot 408 has been designed and developed in France to fulfill the expectations of Chinese clients and to conquer the local market. It will be manufactured at Wuhan and launched in China in spring 2010, before being launched in Latin America.
The 408 forms an integral part of Peugeot’s international development strategy based on launching modern vehicles that arouse desire and emotions, while always being tailored to local requirements.
408: WORLDWIDE PREMIER IN CHINA
The new Peugeot 408 is a latest generation vehicle and is being launched for the first time worldwide in China. This half-height architecture notch-back saloon car designed in France is destined for an international career.
Accordingly, its name follows the Lion Marque’s traditional naming logic.
The figure 4 refers to the size of the car (4.68 m) and its positioning in the medium-luxury family saloon segment. The 0 in the middle signifies that it belongs to the Peugeot Marque, while the 8 expresses the vehicle generation.
With this name, the 408 naturally falls into place within the current Peugeot range and becomes the forerunner of the 8 series, Peugeot’s latest generation vehicles on the Chinese market.
HARMONIOUS, DYNAMIC AND EXCLUSIVE STYLING
The guiding spirit for Peugeot design stylists can be summed up in very few words: harmony, elegance and dynamism.
For the 408, the overarching desire was to instill it with balanced proportions and simple, flowing volumes as foundations on which the designers have succeeded in sculpting subtly sleek, pure and sensual lines. This priority also guided the project’s technical choices: its dimensions, its wheelbase, its wide axle track, its generous wheel sizes…
The front of the 408 bears the recognisable traits of the Lion Marque. Accordingly, the particularly feline headlights stretch harmoniously across the bonnet. The headlight units each comprise four technically advanced and image-enhancing light shafts to serve as bright and piercing eyes.
The 408’s asserted personality is also evident in its radiator grille, equipped with thin chrome strips, and in the shape of its fog lights, with the ensemble contributing to creating a visually wider effect for the car, suggesting a vehicle “glued to the road”.
Two central ribs run around bonnet to extend the effect of the Lion’s chromed surround. The highly sculptured bonnet lines marked by the design of the headlights flow naturally into the front body pillars of the wide, forward-sloping windscreen. These flowing lines continue right to the rear of car, before ending in a spoiler subtly integrated into the boot space.
Special attention has been paid to modeling the sides of the 408. The carved wheel arches, the plunging body line between the tip of the rear light clusters to the front wing, the side windows and the sunken rear window glass surface treatment and the junction line between the rear quarter panel and the boot… all contribute to the image of a dynamic, modern and robust vehicle.
At the rear, the flowing lines and the wraparound rear bumper visually highlight the vehicle’s generous “hind quarters” and contribute to the effect of it being “glued” it to the tarmac.
The rear light design blends harmoniously with the car’s boot. The ruby red coloured lights are trimmed with a clear white strip that hints at a lion’s claw within the cluster. At night, they take on the form of three diagonal strips, as a tribute to the styling details of some of the Marque’s historic models (307 CC, 504 Coupé and Cabriolet).
Finally, every detail, every part visible on the vehicle has been styled to contribute to its elegance and perceived quality. Accordingly, the colour of the protective trim, set in chrome, matches the body colour, with the ensemble further enhancing the car’s luxury appearance. In the same manner, the absence of any visible external aerial, as it is built into the rear window, contributes to this saloon’s pure body lines.
All in all, the 408 displays flowing and original styling that combines dynamism with presence and elegance with modernity. Moreover, its promises hitherto unavailable experiences in terms of the quality of life onboard and driving pleasure.
INTERIOR STYLING: FLOWING LINES ENHANCED BY NOBLE MATERIALS
The interior styling of the 408 highlights and makes maximum use of the space offered by the half-height architecture, while the design and top of-the-range materials used create an incontestable perception of quality.
By way of example, the dashboard design is uncluttered, elegant and flowing, with a particularly wide field of vision due to the steeply sloping windscreen that is almost symmetrical with the front body pillars.
The interior designers became genuinely obsessed with paying special attention to interior trim and onboard wellbeing, and this can be seen in the smallest of styling details:
– the instrument and controls cluster is very compact, to leave generous surfaces free for noble materials, in terms of both feel and appearance (the upper portion of this dashboard is covered in soft-touch “slush” material);
– each element (climate control panel, audio system, storage or CD changer) has been particularly well integrated;
– the downward curving door panels echo the vehicle exterior side styling;
– chrome touch keys enhance the overall image: chromed circles around the air vents and dashboard dials, as well as around the climate control and audio system buttons and the door handles;
– hints of the 408’s dynamism are subtly apparent in some of the “V” shaped interior styling details, such as of the ring banding the gear lever, the design of the upper part of the wraparound seat squabs, or even the shape of the front roof light assembly.
With its voluptuous shapes, the grain and feel to the touch of each part, the strong sensation of space and light, the entire interior creates the desire to extend the moment, the time of a journey, for as long as possible…
Two different interior styling ambiences are available, according to the client’s choice, to support the promise of a luxury and convivial “life onboard” for the delight of both the driver and all the passengers.
DISTINCTIVE STYLING AND RECORD INTERIOR SPACE, ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
The 408 follows the half-height architecture heritage successfully developed by Peugeot. Accordingly, the new notch-back saloon offers a maximum of space, visibility and luminosity for its occupants. Peugeot has paid particular attention to ensuring that the expectations of the Chinese clientele have been integrated in the design of the 408.
OPTIMISED EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
With its exterior dimensions, the 408 offers an excellent combination of record interior space and a high level of safety.
At 4.68 m, its length contributes massively to the interior space due to:
– a 2.71 m wheelbase, for the maximum benefit of rear passengers, and to fulfill a strong expectation voiced by Chinese clients;
– front overhang limited to 938 mm and a rear overhang of 1,034 mm that creates a large rear load-carrying space.
Large width of 1.815 m, to provide excellent lateral passive safety and industry-leading interior space (e.g. shoulder width).
Height of 1.525 m, to stand apart in this saloon segment and to offer maximum interior space.
In the same vein, to fulfill styling and road holding demands, the designers have opted for wide tracks:
– 1.522 m for the front track;
– 1.503 m for the rear track.
Generously sized wheels, fitted with 215/55R16 and 215/50R17 tyres, also contribute to the 408’s overall styling and to its handling performance.
With its high and optimised architecture and its wide tracks enhancing its dynamic and streamlined styling, the 408 promises road holding behaviour in line with the dynamic qualities contained in the Peugeot genes.
CLEVERLY DESIGNED AERODYNAMICS
The styling and dimensions of this new Peugeot immediately point to particularly efficient aerodynamics. In fact, its exceptional Cx coefficient of 0.30 matches the best of its competitors’ four door saloons. Its performance in terms of this air penetration index and the excellent resulting SCx (0.698 m²) are proof of the efforts invested in fine-tuning the vehicle’s body shape in the wind tunnel.
As a result, the 408 offers controlled fuel consumption to achieve limited running costs and maximum environmental efficiency.
LIFE ON BOARD THE 408, SPACE AND WELLBEING
The 408’s half-height architecture offering interior freedom, space and luminosity, provides its occupants with a comfortable quality of life on board.
GET IN AND SEE
With glass surface area of 3.95 m2, unrivaled in its segment, the 408 offers its occupants a much-appreciated light and airy environment that become genuinely exceptional with the opening sunroof which increases the total glass surface area to 4.32 m2.
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT LAYOUT WITH THE EMPHASIS ON SPACE AND COMFORT, SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE CHINESE CLIENTELE
Designed for the occupants…
The 408’s architecture enables the passenger compartment to be laid out solely with passengers’ wellbeing in mind, with made-to-measure “furniture”.
The elegant, state-of-the-art, soft-touch dashboard offers everything required for driving and for comfort, while avoiding any impression of invading the occupant space. Along the interior sides, the welcoming ergonomic and refined door panels invite occupants to rest their elbows.
The modern-design front seats provide comfort and support, without monopolising the interior space.
The raised rear seats contribute to an “amphitheatre effect”, while enhancing forward visual comfort and improving space at knee level.
At ease in a luminous and vast car, passengers benefit from space, for which the dimensions speak for themselves:
– in the front, shoulder width of 1,464 mm and roof height of 924 mm, record values in this category;
– in the rear, shoulder width of 1,470 mm and roof height of 869 mm, values among the best in the category;
– record knee space, up to 159 mm, thanks to the generous wheelbase.
… and their luggage
The square shape and clever layout of the boot area ensures easy and practical use of the vast load space offered by the 408: 526 litres of water (or 481 dm3 VDA).
Side bins are provided to store and even tie down usually-transported items, such as cans, cleaning materials or even a fire extinguisher, while the long loads flap available on versions trimmed in leather upholstery, makes its easier to carry long items.
Finally, to extend this load-carrying space into the passenger compartment, the rears seats can be folded in a 40/60 split (backrest and seat squabs) to create extra load-carrying space.
Access to the generous boot is very easy, thanks to the wide rear opening made possible by the use of two pantographs. The driver can even control the opening of the boot remotely by means of the remote control or a special push button on the dashboard.
Host of storage spaces
As evidence to the care taken over occupants’ onboard life, a host of cleverly-designed storage areas in the vehicle provide space for storing a total volume of almost 33 liters.
These storage spaces include:
– the glove box with a storage capacity of 10 liters that can accommodate a 1.5 liter water bottle. Its cover, with opening/closing assistance, has its own special storage spaces. Moreover, the glove box is air conditioned on certain vehicle versions;
– at the tail end of the console, after the fl at recessed area for placing a teapot, the central armrest cover offers access to a 2.12 liters storage space that can hold six CD and various items;
– at the junction between the instrument and control façade and the console there is an area covered with a sound-deadening mat to place keys and a telephone;
– the front and rear door storage bins offer a total volume of almost 15 litres for keeping maps, guides and various items ready to hand. The front door storage bins can accommodate an upright 1.5 litre water bottle and the rear storage bins have enough space for a 50 cl bottle;
– an ashtray with a flip-up cover for use by the rear passengers is located at the rear end of the console ;
– an ISO format space is available to accommodate miscellaneous items.
Other storage facilities are offered on leather-trimmed versions:
– a drawer under the front passenger seat;
– a rear centre armrest, as an extension to the long item flap, covers a closed storage space, two cup holders and two pen recesses. It is situated at the same level as the door armrests to provide rear passengers with a pleasant and comfortable seating position.
Welcoming seats…
As elements of conviviality symbolising comfort, the utmost care has been taken in designing the seats of the 408.
Both the fabric and leather versions, as well as being welcoming, offer comfort and support.
Despite being located particularly low in the vehicle to offer a genuinely typical saloon car driving position, the 408’s driver’s seat incorporates 50 m of active height adjustment (+ 13 mm and - 37 mm in relation to its nominal height) to set just the right driving height. This adjustment is also available for passengers with the leather upholstery option.
In the rear, the side seats have been specially modeled to ensure that two passengers can travel in optimal comfort.
FOCUS OF EVERY ATTENTION TO DETAIL
A plethora of “attentions to detail” dedicated to 408 user comfort have been developed and incorporated in certain versions.
To see better
As soon as the remote unlocking is activated, at the same time, welcome lighting that can be set up according to user preferences, turns on the passenger compartment lighting and the dipped headlights to light the way to the car. As soon as the door opens, the door sill lights (under the door rebate) and the foot-well lights are actuated. When the remote control is used to lock the vehicle, the dipped headlights remain on for a few seconds (variable user preference time lag).
Ambient lighting (activated/deactivated via the parameter setting menu) comprises discreet foot-well lighting to enable occupants to find fallen objects. For their part, the rear passengers have an independently-operated overhead light cluster with two map reading lights.
To breathe better
The very carefully designed heating, cooling and ventilation system on the 408 contributes to onboard comfort via exceptional air distribution, notably via five front air vents, heating grilles under the dashboard and two air vents with direction-adjustable fins for the rear passengers.
In addition, the 408 benefits from a new, even more powerful, duel level climate control system: manual and automatic dual zone air conditioning. The latter can also operate in single zone mode, with a single control, when the driver is alone onboard. A filter protects the passenger compartment from dust and pollen. In addition, with the dual zone climate control system, active charcoal is used to limit fuel odours.
Noise level to ensure a comfortable atmosphere
As a basic requirement for comfort, noise treatment has been taken into consideration at all design levels and has resulted in:
– a quest for body rigidity and the elimination of noise due to shapes, as well as studies into the process of bodywork-chassis attachment to hunt down and eradicate any source of noise;
– recourse to dual seals, scuttle cross-member seals, almost 4 mm thick side window glass, sound-proofed laminated windscreen;
– unrelenting work to seek out and eradicate trim noises;
– additions serving to absorb potential noise, such as stiffening pads in certain areas and sound-absorbing padding in others.
High quality audio and telematics offer
These acoustic surroundings are conducive to listening to the various audio options offered on the 408. Considerable care has been taken over reception and broadcasting quality. The audio equipment includes six loudspeakers attached to the actual door panel structure to achieve optimal sound quality.
RD4 audio system: with an MP3 file reading capability, it is standard fitment on the 408. On certain versions, an additional USB connector is located in the front centre armrest.
RNEG 2009 navigation and audio system; perfectly integrated with the vehicle in terms of styling and ergonomics (controls mounted behind the steering wheel), it offer a host of functionalities:
– large fold-away and three position angle-adjustable 7” 16/9 screen (resolution: 480x234 pixels) offering a bird-view mode;
– complete mapping of China stored on a 4 Gb SD card, leaving the CD function free for music;
– dashboard-mounted CD player with MP3 and WMA compatibility;
– tri-band radio and two aerials for optimal radio frequency reception;
– Bluetooth® connection for hands-free telephone communications when the user has a handset with this function. The telephone address directory can be viewed on the onboard display screen;
– USB connection, depending on the version, on the centre console to connect any type of portable audio or video digital device.
TECHNOLOGY TO SERVE THE DRIVER, IN TERMS OF BOTH COMFORT AND SAFETY
Comfortably installed at the controls that have been the special focus of ergonomic design, with a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, and a multi-position seat, the driver of a 408 has a collection of technologies and driving aids available to ensure driving comfort and pleasure:
– large exterior rear view mirrors to guarantee better rear vision and even more comfort during manouvering;
– “Butterfly” windscreen wipers with flat blades for excellent cleaning efficiency over a very large surface area;
– in the line of sight, the space between the speedometer and the tachometer on the instrument panel with four chrome-encircled dials can accommodate a dot-matrix screen to display information from the trip computer, warning pictograms, cruise control or speed governor details and even GPS instructions if the car is equipped with the navigation system;
– new functions such as one-touch indicators that just flash three times – useful on the motorway – or even the windscreen washer fluid low level warning light;
– boot and fuel tank flap opening controlled from the passenger compartment.
Moreover, depending on the version, the driver can also benefit from:
– a variable speed governor coupled with the cruise control;
– Bi-xenon directional complex surface headlights. To improve night-time driving conditions, these headlights provide a blue-white light similar to daylight and are three times more powerful than standard bulbs.
To comply with regulations, these xenon headlights are fitted with a dynamic beam height adjustment system and headlight washers.
Their elliptical module comprises a dynamic dimming device to switch to and from dipped and main beam functions. An additional complex surface headlight adds even more light to improve distance vision.
On dipped beam, the headlights are equipped with a directional function to improve vision on winding roads.
This function is linked to vehicle speed between 5 km/h and 160 km/h to adapt to different driving conditions. The headlights can pivot at a speed of 15° per second over a maximum angle of 22° (15° towards the exterior and 7° towards the interior). This function procures the pleasant feeling that the system anticipates the next bend to make night driving safer and more comfortable;
– front/rear parking assistance. A valuable aid for parking manouveres and personal safety, the parking assistance function broadcasts a series of sounds at varying speeds to indicate the degree of proximity, via the loudspeaker closest to the obstacle.
The system is activated automatically when reverse gear is engaged and at speeds under 10 km/h for front parking assistance, once the vehicle has been at rest for longer than three seconds.
If the vehicle is equipped with the multi-function color screen, different color strips indicate the distance remaining.
The rear parking assistance function is standard equipment on the 408, while the front parking assistance function is available as an option;
– a certain number of other functions such as the indexing of the rear view mirrors with reverse gear, automatic rear view mirror folding and redeployment, automatic headlight switching, automatic windscreen wiper operation with a rain sensor (associated with the athermic windscreen) and an electro-chrome anti-dazzle interior rear view mirror…
VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SAFETY
As with every new vehicle developed by the Marque, safety plays an overarching role in the project.
Accordingly, consideration of safety aspects started at the very outset of the design phase. The 408 benefits from the Group’s entire experience in this area and from the very latest technological advances. This has resulted in state-of-the-art safety at all levels.
In terms of primary safety that contributes to avoiding an accident, the vehicle’s excellent structural rigidity enables the running gear (an historical area of expertise for Peugeot) and the electronic driving assistance systems to achieve benchmark handling behavior in its category.
In terms of secondary safety that limits the consequences of an accident, the body structure has been considerably over-sized to withstand the most severe impacts, such as CNCAP crash tests.
Thick steel panels have been used to increase the rigidity of certain strategic parts, such as body panels (panels thickness varying between 0.67 mm and 0.72 mm) or structure reinforcements (up to 3.2 mm thick).
The controlled deformation of this structure and the occupant protection equipment (airbags, seatbelts and seats) enables the 408 to aim for the five-star rating in the adult occupant vehicle protection test.
ROBUST STRUCTURE
The 408 has been structurally designed to dissipate impact energy in a programmed manner.
The car has been designed with a double impact force dissipation channel to provide maximum passenger compartment protection, and occupant protection and to facilitate reparability. The latter has a direct influence on car insurance costs for the user.
Frontal impacts
The principle of the single-piece steel structure has been re-employed in its main features. However, the front section has been rethought with:
– the design of an upper channel formed of reinforcements situated above the front wheel arches, as an extension to the windscreen pillars, and door frieze stiffeners which serves to improve impact absorption;
– increased rigidity of the scuttle side cross-member and the passenger foot-well.
As a result, in the event of a head-on impact, 80% of impact energy is dissipated via the central channel (front bumper, wings, side members, etc.), and 15% via the engine cradle. The upper channel absorbs the remaining 5%.
This double impact force dissipation channel then follows an energy absorption strategy that determines the build-up of efforts to transmit them via pre-established “channels” towards areas designed to withstand impacts: the scuttle, the under-frame and sills. This creates an “occupant protection cage” around the passenger compartment.
In addition, the 408 is equipped with a collapsible steering column. In the event of an impact, it retracts into itself at a given point to protect the driver. For its part, an “active footrest” maintains the driver’s foot angle to limit the risk of ankle injuries.
Finally, the ongoing objective of improving the level of safety, while controlling its impact on vehicle weight has led to the considerable use of materials lighter than ordinary steel, such as VHEL panels (Very High Elastic Limit sheet steel).
In the same spirit, the bonnet and door reinforcements are made of aluminium, while the wings and numerous other bodywork elements are made of composite materials.
Side impacts
To ensure the best possible level of occupant protection in the event of a side impact, the centre pillar has been noticeably strengthened on the 408, thanks to the adoption of a technique known as “multi-layer”. In fact, the “B” pillar is made up of three different thicknesses of steel panels, including two of the VHEL type. The base of this “C” pillar has also been significantly strengthened, as witnessed by its shape, at the level of the sill, which is clearly visible when the front doors are open.
In addition all the doors effectively contribute to boosting the car’s overall rigidity by creating a solid cross-brace between the front foot-well, the central section and the rear wheel arch. The doors are equipped with aluminium side reinforcements and door frieze stiffeners and the protection system is completed by the inclusion of impact-absorbing padding.
In the same vein, the bodywork sides are formed entirely of cavities and the exterior side members are attached to numerous cross-braces that contribute to vehicle rigidity.
Rear impacts
A cross-member is incorporated in the rear section of the vehicle to absorb impacts, reduce the
consequences on the vehicle body and ensure a good level of reparability. The rear styling takes account of the structural element in the design of the boot, its rear lights and its generous bumper.
HIGH PERFORMANCE RESTRAINTS
To complement the vehicle’s structural performance in terms of impact resistance, a range of “personal” protection elements have been developed to restrain and protect the body:
– 6 airbags are available, depending on the version, to protect passengers:
• 2 adaptive front airbags with a capacity of 60 liters for the driver and 90 liters for the passenger,
• 2 side airbags with a capacity of 10 liters to protect the thorax of front seat passengers,
• 2 curtain airbags with a capacity of 23 liters to protect the heads of both front and rear passengers;
– the 408 is equipped with 5 three-point safety belts:
• an audible and visual warning system is fitted as standard to remind the driver to buckle up. As an option, this safety system can be extended to cover the front passenger (Safety Pack),
• in the front seats, the belts are equipped with pyrotechnic tensioners and low-rated force limiters,
• in the rear seats, the side seatbelts are equipped with force limiters;
– front and rear headrests.
Special care has been given to child safety. In fact, the 408 has been designed with two Isofix locations to accommodate a dedicated child seat on both the rear side seats.
A HIGH PERFORMANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY ENGINE RANGE
The 1.6 l 16 V 80 kW (110 hp) engine/TU5JP4
With a cubic capacity of 1,587 cm3 created by a bore of 78.5 mm and a stroke of 82 mm, this engine develops its maximum power of 80 kW (110 hp) at 5,750 rpm and maximum torque of 147 Nm at 4,000 rpm 85% of its maximum torque is available at just 2,000 rpm, and 95%, i.e. 140 Nm at engine speeds between 3,000 rpm and 5,500 rpm
The 2.0 l 16 V 108 kW (147 hp) engine/EW10A+
This is a four cylinder, double overhead camshaft engine with sixteen valves and a cubic capacity of 1,997 cm3 (bore: 85 mm, stroke: 88 mm). The compact engine block is made of light alloy. The inlet camshaft is equipped with a continuously Variable Valve Timing (VVT) system and new engine management mapping to vary inlet timing in relation to driving conditions. This feature results in a more flexible and powerful engine.
Due this range of developments, maximum power has been boosted to 108 kW at 6,000 rpm, with maximum torque unchanged at 200 Nm at 4,000 rpm.
TRANSMISSIONS TAILORED TO CHINESE REQUIREMENTS
Proven and robust manual gearbox
Both engines in the 408 range are combined with a “BE” type five speed manual gearbox.
Gearbox ratios have been optimised to favor economic fuel consumption, while maintaining lively acceleration performance from a standing start.
A new “Porsche Tiptronic system” sequential control automatic gearbox, the AT8
The new transmission will delight a clientele particularly focused on comfort and ease of use, while offering a more spirited driving experience in sequential mode. The AT8 four speed automatic gearbox is available with both 408 engine options. On the one hand, it comprises gear changing logic particularly suited to extremely smooth urban driving.
On the other hand, the new torque converter from the supplier ZF improves the gearbox’s power output and reduces its consumption by around 5%. A new management mode to lock the three higher gears has been incorporated to reduce converter slipping phases.
Consequently, there are fewer gear changes and this improves smooth driving in built-up areas and boosts vehicle acceleration on the open road.
PEUGEOT EXPERTISE
The chassis of the 408 stands out by its great rigidity. This guarantees optimum use of the vehicle’s power train and running gear performance and contributes to its high level of insulation from noise and vibrations.
SUSPENSION COMBINING SPIRITED HANDLING AND COMFORT
Peugeot believes that road behavior has a direct impact on the notion of driving pleasure, as well as on active safety. These aspects are at the very heart of design work on all vehicles in the range.
In this area, as the target for the 408 is to become the segment benchmark, all the associated elements have been the subject of very special attention.
Structurally, the 408 benefits from excellent torsional rigidity enabling its running gear to be exploited to its limits.
The 408 uses the proven running gear that has contributed to the renowned qualities of a host of Peugeot saloons.
Accordingly, the front suspension is of the inverted pseudo MacPherson type with a separate antiroll bar. This technology offers precise road holding with a high level of road noise filtering.
The rear axle comprises a deformable cross-member and an integrated antiroll bar that takes up limited space while providing major rigidity, as a guarantee of good vibration control and well-controlled body movement. It is also the guarantee of a good level of comfort for rear passengers.
Designed and produced by Peugeot to ensure very detailed fine-tuning, the 408’s hydraulic valve shock absorbers set at 3 bars pressure play an active part in the balance between comfort and road holding.
On the 408, the link between the side members and the engine cradle has been redefined to improve the front running gears transversal rigidity.
The widening of the front and rear tracks, along the same lines as the generous wheel and tyre widths, has a positive impact on the vehicles body roll, precise handling and stability, when driving in a straight line, lifting one’s foot off the accelerator or braking on bends. Along the same lines, the change in the front axle angle to - 0.2° negative camber, contributes to the car’s precise and quick handling.
PRECISE STEERING
The 408’s precise rack and pinion type steering provides good driver feedback. Its variable steering power assistance system is controlled by a variable output pump.
EFFICIENT BRAKING
At the front, braking is provided by large 283 mm diameter, 26 mm thick ventilated discs. Piston diameter on the front brake calipers has been increased to 54 mm to provide a good level of “bite”, control and endurance. The rear is equipped with two 249x9 mm discs.
As standard equipment, the 408 is fitted with an ABS system, electronic brake force distribution (EBDF) and emergency braking assistance (EBA). To complete this package, the hazard warning lights come on automatically in the event sharp deceleration.
The standard or optional ESP system, depending on the version, also adds the functions of anti slip regulation (ASR) and stability control (CDS). The system can be disconnected to maintain power in delicate situations and automatically reactivates when the speed exceeds 50 km/h.
BODY COLOURS
There are seven shades available in the 408 body colour range:
Polar White
Obsidian Black
Aluminium Grey
China Blue
Thorium Grey
Lucifer Red
Vapour Grey
AMBIANCE AND INTERIOR TRIM
Light ambiance
Elegance and modernity characterise this two-tone ambiance:
• upper dashboard: Tramontane Dark Grey;
• lower dashboard: Ariès Beige;
• instrument background: Black;
• chrome dashboard trim and Warm Silver paint;
• Tiaowon Beige warp and weave fabric or Beige Leather;
• available with the following body colours: Polar White, Thorium Grey, Obsidian Black, Vapour Grey.
Dark ambiance
This predominantly black ambiance defines a dynamic and luxury universe:
• dashboard: Tramontane Dark Grey;
• chrome dashboard trim and Warm Silver paint;
• instrument background: White;
• Shuiwen Black Warp and weave fabric or Black Leather;
• available with the following body colours: Aluminium Grey, China Blue, Lucifer Red.
Peugeot, in accordance with the Group’s demanding quality policy, has deployed major resources to conduct 1,000,000 km of road testing on the 408. This means that double the amount of initial road testing has been carried out prior to the vehicle’s sales launch. The aim has been to obtain the maximum amount of feedback likely to improve or correct the slightest detail not complying with the high quality targets set for the 408 at the time of its launch.
[Source: Peugeot]